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Our new "One liter can of whoopa$$"; Our LeMons racecar build
Topic Started: Mar 21 2010, 12:50 PM (18,487 Views)
DrDomer
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I introduced myself over in the other area of the forum... Here's the post..

Just wanted to say hello to everyone. I'm part of a group with a new Geo Metro Hatchback. We plan to race this in the 24 hours of LeMons. :thumb

We were able to secure a 1994 Metro Hatchback with unknown mileage for $200. It hadn't been started in over 1 yr and had sat outside the entire time.

The good:

1) running 1.0L engine - it started right up amazingly
2) 4 speed manual transmission that was apparently replaced with a used 4 speed tranny from another vehicle within the last year
3) no power options
4) the clutch was replaced with tranny
5) we found 2 very old Hershey Bars in the back

The bad:

1) wheels were seized
2) the brakes are toast
3) the interior is trashed
4) there's some rust
5) springs and struts aren't in great shape
6) there's no tach (is that normal?)

Our plans:

1) total "go fast" budget must be under $500 (brakes, wheels, tires, roll cage, seat, harness, communication equip don't count against this)
2) replace front brakes with brembo rotors, new calipers, new pads, new steel braided lines, new Motul fluid
3) replace drums in back (consider conversion to rotors if feasible)
4) replace front and rear springs and struts - need to keep in mind budget - determine if we can upgrade in any way over stock
4) find 15" wheels that are light and fit the Metro - can use Bridgestone tires (have access to free supply) - smallest 180 rating tires they have
apparently
5) add fire system/extinguisher
6) add race seat
7) add roll cage
8) add master kill switch
9) add radio system
10) add tachometer
11) add tow strap points

Here's some pics of the car stripped...

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Here's a short Youtube video... One of our guys is quite creative... "A one liter can of whoopass"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ybHtl5p5nRU

We look forward to sharing a build thread with everyone, and will hope to use this forum for help... :cheers
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DrDomer
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Not sure if we should post this here (some fourms it's ok, some not). We also have full interior now that could go to a good home. The seats are in very good condition. The carpet is trash and has been treated as such. The interior panels are in pretty good shape. Willing to sell anything to anyone for any reasonable amount. Thanks.
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Coche Blanco
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The seats will probably go fast. When you sell, does it add to the budget? (i.e. sell them for 50 now your budget is 550?)

Looking good so far. I suggest doing a compression test and seeing how that is. If it's good, I would buy one of 3tech's performance cams along with a timing gear, if you plan on dropping the car down about 300lbs. If you can't drop that much weight, just get the gear. You may need to check the head and make sure you won't lose an exhaust valve during the race. New struts are about 40 each and can be found on tirerack. Cut your springs, don't worry about buying new ones. There are several different transmissions, I would try to get the highest ratios ones there are, I don't know if you can afford to sell the old one. (it should be a 5 speed BTW) Drop the cat/muffler and run a straight pipe back from the manifold. You may have 1 or 2 sway bars, I would get bigger ones if you can find them. I'm sure you're going to remove the air bags? I'm sure I missed some things, and i'm sure not all of this is accurate, but it gives you a good start.

Here's some suspension links.
http://www.teamswift.net/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=17204

And engine links.
http://www.teamswift.net/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=30319

Edited by Coche Blanco, Mar 21 2010, 01:37 PM.
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mcmancuso
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You can get heavy front and rear sway bars real cheap from a pull-a-part yard off a 98 or later metro sedan that are great, will bolt right in. There are several 15" wheels including original suzuki's that weigh <10lbs look around on these forums, several are listed various places I think. And if you can find them, Suzuki Swift rear disc brakes can be fitted, you just have to get the rear knuckles, which I'm sure is cheaper than getting something custom. Also, check out http://www.suzukird.com/ they have awesome race upgrades for swifts/metros. Hope this info helps!
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DrDomer
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Selling anything off the car effectively lowers what we have technically spent on the car. In other words, if we sell $50 worth of stuff, we now have $50 more we can spend. So selling stuff is important.

We can make the weight of the car as low as we want, and we plan to keep it stripped as much as possible.

How much added HP/torque are we talking with cam upgrade? I've read that it really flattens out torque curve. I couldn't find reliable estimates on increases. Are we talking 10HP? Is there any decrease in reliability of the engine?

We plan to compression and leak down test the engine. So far (without actually driving the car), the engine seems solid. It is more important for us to finish the 24hrs than to be "a little faster" with increased risk of not finishing. This is actually why we chose this car over a '95 Maxima with 195HP but an auto tranny with 225K miles. We couldn't make the finances work on the Maxima.

The tranny is indeed a 4-speed. We contacted the former owner, and indeed he replaced the tranny himself with a four speed. We haven't (as he couldn't tell us off the top of his head) determined where the tranny came from. I will say he has spent more time fiddling with Metros than anyone I've read about. He had even taken a few engines, and through forced induction, gotten 130+HP out of them. He even had built his own dyno. Some friend of his has several land speed records in Geo Metros. He says the tranny will work fine... I guess we'll just have to believe him.

We will plan to cut the springs. Will the stock dampers work effectively? Will we be under-damped?

We will look into the Suzuki Swift rear disc brake swap (brakes don't count against $500).

We can modify the exhaust, but there are decibel limits we have to adhere to. Also, there are some specs as to what we can and cannot do with exhaust. We will be opening it up as much as we can.

We'll definitely try to find those Suzuki wheels. If they are 15" and indeed under 10lbs, that would be perfect.

Thanks guys!!!!!!!!!!

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DrDomer
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Oh.. and yes... airbags will have to come out. We're gonna try to not kill ourselves doing it. Battery disconnected of course.
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Coche Blanco
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Can you cut the roof off? I have no idea the HP gains, but it is better and worth it. I'm pretty sure the timing gear alone is worth 5hp. Do you happen to know the guy? He sounds like someone over at TeamSwift.
Edited by Coche Blanco, Mar 21 2010, 05:58 PM.
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DrDomer
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Technically roof could come off. Does that significantly reduce body stiffness in a "unibody" vehicle? We have to have a roll cage, so the only advantage of the roof is in case it rains. We will be removing as much glass as we can.

I do know the guy, and he is NOT part of team swift. He is just an independent guy who is very inquisitive. His shop only had 6 different 1.0 liter 3-cylinder engines in various states of disrepair. He now is trying to get rid of his treasure of "stuff".
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Coche Blanco
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Can you tell him to join us? (i'm serious)

D'oh I forgot we're unibody...wow I am dumb.
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DrDomer
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I can give him a nudge your way. His interests have varied from trying to make the only non-two wheel vehicle powered by a Harley Davidson engine (apparently this hasn't been done and he has figured it out). Rebuilding scooters. Rebuilding motorcycles. Mating obscure engines with obscure tranny's. With selling us his only "running" Metro (using the term "running" loosely, like I said he likes to tinker), I think he may be moving away from his Metro interest.

I kinda thought the roof might be important to maintain rigidity, but I've learned never to say it can't be done after the things I've seen in various car forums. People are quite ingenious. So, I was open to your suggestion.
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Coche Blanco
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What is the ratio of the tranny? What is the top speed you can/should reach on the Lemons track?

Are the fuel cell size regulated?
Edited by Coche Blanco, Mar 21 2010, 07:43 PM.
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Bad Bent
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Facetious Educated Donkey

The 24 Hours of LeMons The Prices & Rules is a laugh riot. :lol

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DrDomer
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Coche Blanco
Mar 21 2010, 07:17 PM
What is the ratio of the tranny? What is the top speed you can/should reach on the Lemons track?

Are the fuel cell size regulated?
Don't know ratio. He said top speed about 82mph in 4th gear (only 4 gears with this tranny). I doubt even on Autobahn's long straight on the north side we would get to that (but God I hope we can - for perspective a stock miata will hit 100 mph in that straight).

Fuel cell size limited to 24 gallons. We discussed putting in a larger fuel cell, but honestly I think driver fatigue would set in before we ran out of fuel. :lol I doubt we would get less than 25 mpg even racing the darn thing. To give perspective, Autobahn is 3.56 miles. I suspect the winning team will complete roughly 250 laps. We have 6 drivers. Do the math. Driver changes will be more frequent than the need for fuel.
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Coche Blanco
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I would try getting the smallest tank possible. (with a little fudge factor) Or at least put less gas in it?

82mph, do you know if that is redline?
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DrDomer
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Coche Blanco
Mar 21 2010, 08:03 PM
I would try getting the smallest tank possible. (with a little fudge factor) Or at least put less gas in it?

82mph, do you know if that is redline?
Well... I agree lightening the weight as much as possible... Including fuel is important.

I have no idea if he knows for sure about top speed and/or if it's at redline, but I'll be asking. I had asked him what redline is, and he didn't give me as firm an answer as I got today (about 7500 rpm).

I'm already working on figuring out the tach, and could easily find top end on the open road (it's not like I'd be exploring the top end of a Z06). :D

I will say this, you guys on this forum rock. :rocker In one day here I've gotten more help than in a week on other really good forums like miata.net, e90post.com and e46fanatics.com (other sites I am an active member of).
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